Duplicating machine



Dec. 28, 1943.l y|` R, FORD '2,337,808 -DUPLICATING MACHINE Filed Dec. 11,'1-941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 lllllllllllllll Frq n @1 W Dec. 28, 1943. F. R. FORD DUPLICAT'ING MACHINE Filed Dec. ll, 1941 2 Shee'S--Sheetr'l 2 n Y 5/ 3 7 O 3, E?. ftus Ol J. 2 if? Q if Frank fvhald Ford IN'VE N Tore,

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Patented Dec.I 2.8, 1943 UNETE ortica DUPLICATING MACHINE Frank Ronald Ford, Sparkbrook, Birmingham, England Claims.

This invention relates to duplicating machines of the kind in which a master sheet bearing the matter to be reproduced in reverse is mounted on a cylinder, and the copy sheets are moistened by means of a moistening pad and are then passed between the master sheet on the cylinder and the pressure roller.

The present invention relates particularly to the moistening means.

The moistening devices usually employed in machines of the type to which .this invention relates, generally comprise a reservoir for the moistening liquid and a casing or tray for a moistening pad which may extend for the full width or any part or parts of the width of the copy sheet, the moistening liquid being conveyed to the pad from the reservoir by means of one or more wicks.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide means whereby the amount of fluid fed to the moistening pad by the wick can be adjusted to suit working conditions. For instance, less iiuid is required when reproducing on thin paper than when using thicker paper,

A further object of the present invention is to prevent waste of the moistenng uid by evaporation when the machine is out of use.

According to the present invention means are provided whereby contact between the wick and the pad can either be broken, or the pressure or intimacy of such contact adjusted.

For instance, the pad may be mounted on a tray or support in a fixed position, and that end or part of the wick which is to make contact with the pad to convey the fluid thereto may be movably mounted so that it can be moved in relation to the pad to effect the adjustment.

The contact between the wick and the pad may be an edge contact, i. e. the end edge of the wick may be brought into Contact with the edge of the pad, or alternatively, the contact between the wick and the pad may take place between one side of the wick and the underside of the pad.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a sectional view in side elevation showing one construction in accordance with this invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view with the cover removed from the moistening appliance.

'Figure 3 is a section on line 3 3 oi Figure l.

In the construction shown the moistening fluid is contained in a tank lil, and extending across the top of the tank is a tray H in which is an opening I?. extending preferably for the full length of the tank.

At the front of the tray the pad i3 is located in a fixed position by means of pins M fixed in the tray and partially penetrating the pad but not penetrating quite to its upper surface. may be provided ywith a lip i5 which extends upwardly around the lower part of the forward edge of the pad. The pad maybe made of any suitable material and that part of it which is to make contact with the copy sheets may be covered with skin It or other suitable material.

The tray which holds the pad is `of stepped formation, there being a step down adjacent the rear edge or the pad, and slidably mounted on the lower step il is a plate i8 which is adapted to carry on its upper surface the upper end of the wick i9. The wick It extends downwardly through the opening l 2 in the tray into the moistemng fluid in Ythe tank, and vits upper end is taken through an opening in the said sliding plate i3 and lies on the upper surface of the plate and extends to the edge thereof, or slightly beyond if desired. An additional thickness 20 of absorbent Wick material may be mounted upon that part of the Wick which lies on the sliding plate i8, and the said part of the wick and the additional thickness of material may be retained in position on the sliding plate I8 by pins 2l mounted in the sliding plate I8 and extending upwardly through the wick and into but not through the additional thickness of absorbent material on the top of the wick.

Means are provided whereby the plate i8 carrying the wick and the additional thickness of absorbent material may be slidden on the tray towards and away from the adjacent edge oi the moistening pad, such means allowing the end edge 22 of the wick and one edge of the additional thickness 20 of absorbent material to be brought into Contact with the edge of the moistening pad i 3, or such contact can be entirely severed by moving the sliding plate away from the moistening pad.

It will be understood that the material of the wick and the additional absorbent material thereon and the moistening pad Will usually be of a brous nature so that it is possible to eiiect an adjustment in the intimacy of the contact between the contacting surfaces of the pad on the one hand and the wick, and the additional moistening material on the other. For instance, the bres at the contacting surfaces can be brought very lightly into contact to provide for a minimum supply of moistening nuid to the pad. If more iiuid is required in the pad then the sliding plate is adjusted very slightly to make the con- The tray justing the sliding plate I8. For instance a pin l 23 may be mounted in the tank and may extend therethrough from side to side, and this pin may be operated by a suitable knob or handle exterior to the tank. The pin 23 is provided with crank arms 25 within the tank and these crank arms extend through openings in the sliding plate I8 uid, a tray having an opening in its base, an absorbent pad on the tray, a wick having one end on the tray, and extending through said opening into the tank, and means for moving the end of the wick on the tray into and out of contact with the pad.

2. In a duplicating machine of the kind referred to, moistening means for the copy sheets Comprising a tank for containing moistening liquid, a tray having an opening in its base, an absorbent pad xed on the tray, a carrier plate slidably mounted on the tray, a wick having one end attached to the carrier plate and extending through said opening into the tank, and means for sliding said carrier plate on the tray to move the wick into and out of contact with the pad.

so that when the pin is turned the plate `is slidden y at right angles to its length.

The operating knob may be mounted directly -on theA end of the pivot bar, or alternatively as shown, the end of the pin 23 exterior to the tank may be provided with a crank 26 having a crank pin 21, and for operating this crank a rotatable pin 28 is mounted in the adjacent side frame 3E! of the machine. If this latter construction is adopted the side frame may be provided with a bearing 29 through which the said operating pin extendsfand on the inner side of the frame 3l) the pin is provided with a slotted crank 3| engaging the crank pin 21 associated with the pin 23. On the outer side of the frame 3U is provided an operating handle 24.

The tray I I is provided with a thin sheet meta or other cover 31 which is removable.

What I claim then is:

1. In a duplicating machine of the kind referred to, moistening means for the copy sheets comprising a tank for containing moistening liq- 3. Moistening means according to claim 2 having a pin extending through the tank, an operating member for turning the pin, and a crank arm on the pin, engaging with the carrier plate, for sliding said plate on the tray.

4. Moistening means according to claim 2 having a step on the tray, the pad being disposed on said step, and an additional thickness of absorbent material secured to the part of the wick which is attached to the carrier plate.

5. In a duplicating machine of the kind referred to, moistening means for the copy sheets comprising a tank for containing moistening liquid, a tray having an opening in its base, an absorbent pad on the tray, a wick having one end on the tray, and extending through said opening into the tank, a pin extending through the tank, an operating pin in the side frame of the machine, a coupling operating between the operating pin and the pin in the tank, and a crank arm on the pin, a step on the tray for sliding said plate on the tray.

Y FRANK RONALD FORD. 

